CPD seeks arrest of driver in fatal MVA

Kassia Micek and

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, May 25, 2009

Photo: Eric S. Swist

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CPD seeks arrest of driver in fatal MVA

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Conroe Police plan to seek an arrest warrant in coming days for a Conroe High School football player driving the car in a Sunday-night accident that killed CHS varsity football star Jordan Wilson, officials said.

Wilson, 17, was killed in a single-vehicle accident in the 1900 block of Airport Road shortly before 9:45 p.m. Sunday during what police believe was a street race, Conroe Police Department Lt. Robert Yetter said.

Wilson was the passenger in a 2006 Ford Fusion driven by Johnnie O’Neal Jr., 18. A second vehicle, a 1996 Acura Integra, was driven by a 17-year-old whose name was not released.

“The two vehicles were racing northbound and (the Ford) lost control and left the road on the west side, struck a culvert and tree,” Yetter said. “An arrest warrant will be sought next week for the driver, Johnnie O’Neal.”

Members of the CPD Community Oriented Response Team estimated the Ford was going 105 mph when it made impact, Yetter said.

Wilson was killed by blunt-force trauma after the passenger side of the Ford struck the tree, said Conroe Sgt. Jon Buckholtz, who was on the scene Sunday night.

Melvin Wilson and Davetta Wilson said their son was loving and “had a big heart.”

“We are still in shock,” Melvin Wilson said. “Protect your kids as much as you can.”

Both Melvin and Davetta Wilson said they were in shock over their son’s death.

O’Neal was ejected from the vehicle and taken to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital with internal injuries, Buckholtz said. O’Neal was listed in fair condition Monday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Although she would not directly talk about her son’s alleged involvement in the wreck, Jennifer O’Neal, the mother of Johnnie O’Neal, said it was “a terrible day for everyone involved.

“Johnnie feels terrible because he lost one of his best friends,” Jennifer O’Neal said Monday evening. “They used to do everything together on and off the field.

“We are both church families and we just ask that everyone keep Johnny in their prayers, as well as the Wilson family.”

Johnnie O’Neal is listed as a senior offensive lineman on the Tigers’ varsity roster, according to the Conroe High website on www.conroeisd.net.

CHS head football Coach Roger Holtkamp confirmed that O’Neal was a member of the Tigers’ varsity team.

The Wilson and O’Neal families are “very close,” Davetta Wilson said.

“This is hard for everyone. It was an accident,” she said. “It’s hard enough right now on Johnnie.

“He doesn’t need to be dealing with that other stuff.”

The Acura was not directly involved in the fatal accident, Buckholtz said. The passenger of the Acura stayed on scene and the driver left the scene before law enforcement arrived. After searching for the vehicle, Conroe Police brought the Acura and its driver back to the scene, Yetter said.

The Acura was seized as part of the investigation.

“If it’s determined to be a racing accident the vehicle can be seized by the state,” Buckholtz said.

A third vehicle stopped at the scene, Buckholtz said. Police will be investigating as to what involvement, if any, the vehicle had in the accident.

“The major factor in the accident was speed,” Buckholtz said. “The initial indication was they were racing.”

Johnnie O’Neal could face possible charges of manslaughter or racing with serious bodily injury/death, Buckholtz said. Both are second-degree felonies punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Police investigators will perform an in-depth investigation today and gather additional information before going to the Montgomery County District Attorney with possible charges, Buckholtz said.

This is the second single-vehicle fatal accident on that two-lane curving stretch of road this year, Buckholtz said.

“It’s just another tragic loss of a kid who had a real bright future,” Buckholtz said.

Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Trey Spikes ordered an autopsy of Wilson’s body, Yetter said. The autopsy was completed Monday morning, but results were not immediately available, Buckholtz said.

The CPD chaplain notified Wilson’s family of his death, Yetter said.

Funeral service plans had not been finalized by Melvin and Davetta Wilson as of Monday night.

Conroe High School will award Jordan Wilson his diploma during the CHS graduation Saturday afternoon at Johnson Coliseum on the Sam Houston State University campus in Huntsville, CISD board member Mel Brown said.

“It’s really nice that the school wants to do that,” Davetta Wilson said. “But we don’t want this incident to take away from the graduation. It’s supposed to be a happy time, not sad.

“We are honored that the school wants to do that for him.”

Melvin, Davetta and Johnnie Wilson are Hurricane Rita evacuees who settled in Conroe in 2005.

Wilson, the District 14-5A most valuable player, was a two-way starter, playing both offense and defense, Holtkamp said.

“He was the most valuable player in the district for football, but more importantly than that he was just a good individual,” Holtkamp said.

Wilson planned to go to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., after a year at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School.

It was her son’s dream to play professional football, Davetta Wilson said, but if that didn’t work out, Wilson planned to become a civil engineer.

“What was special about Jordan was he took care of his business on and off the field,” Holtkamp said. “It was a reflection of his parents and they way they raised him.